Seasonal changes in surface aggregate stability under different tillage and crops

Temporal changes in the surface aggregate stability of an Oxic Paleustalf under different tillage practices (direct drilled/stubble retained versus conventional cultivated/stubble burnt) and under different crops (wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) versus lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.)) were monitored at a 10-year-old rotation site in Wagga Wagga, N.S.W., Australia.

Seasonal fluctuations in aggregate stability were observed under all treatments and were greater than the differences detected between the different tillage and cropping treatments. The seasonal variation was significantly related to the soil water content at the time of sampling and the lowest stability occurred during the autumn/winter period. Cropping under direct drilling and stubble retention resulted in significantly higher stability and lower seasonal fluctuations in stability than under conventional tillage and stubble burning. Despite the seasonal fluctuation, water stability over the season of both of the macroaggregate (more than 250 μm) and microaggregate (less than 50 μm) fractions increased significantly.

While the mean (temporal) stability of the different treatments was significantly related to the mean organic carbon content (r = 0.91) and polysaccharide content, the temporal changes were not related to the soil organic carbon content nor the living root length density.

Lupin had a more beneficial effect on promoting macroaggregate stability than wheat under the conventional tillage/stubble burnt treatment but no significant difference was found under the direct drilled/stubble retained treatment.     

Organic matter, microbial biomass and enzyme activity of soils under different crop rotations in the tropics

Soil organic matter level, soil microbial biomass C, ninhydrin-N, C mineralization, and dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase activity were studied in soils under different crop rotations for 6 years. Inclusion of a green manure crop of Sesbania aculeata in the rotation improved soil organic matter status and led to an increase in soil microbial biomass, soil enzyme activity and soil respiratory activity. Microbial biomass C increased from 192 mg kg^–1 soil in a pearl millet-wheat-fallow rotation to 256 mg kg^–1 soil in a pearl millet-wheat-green manure rotation. Inclusion of an oilseed crop such as sunflower or mustard led to a decrease in soil microbial biomass, C mineralization and soil enzyme activity. There was a good correlation between microbial biomass C, ninhydrin-N and dehydrogenase activity. The alkaline phosphatase activity of the soil under different crop rotations was little affected. The results indicate the green manuring improved the organic matter status of the soil and soil microbial activity vital for the nutrient turnover and long-term productivity of the soil. Received: 7 January 1996     

The short-term cover crops increase soil labile organic carbon in southeastern Australia

Little information is available about the effects of cover crops on soil labile organic carbon (C), especially in Australia. In this study, two cover crop species, i.e., wheat and Saia oat, were broadcast-seeded in May 2009 and then crop biomass was crimp-rolled onto the soil surface at anthesis in October 2009 in southeastern Australia. Soil and crop residue samples were taken in December 2009 to investigate the short-term effects of cover crops on soil pH, moisture, NH₄⁺–N, NO₃⁻–N, soluble organic C and nitrogen (N), total organic C and N, and C mineralization in comparison with a nil-crop control (CK). The soil is a Chromic Luvisol according to the FAO classification with 48.4 ± 2.2% sand, 19.5 ± 2.1% silt, and 32.1 ± 2.1% clay. An exponential model fitting was employed to assess soil potentially labile organic C (C ₀) and easily decomposable organic C for all treatments based on 46-day incubations. The results showed that crop residue biomass significantly decreased over the course of 2-month decomposition. The cover crop treatments had significantly higher soil pH, soluble organic C and N, cumulative CO₂–C, C ₀, and easily decomposable organic C, but significantly lower NO₃⁻–N than the CK. However, no significant differences were found in soil moisture, NH₄⁺–N, and total organic C and N contents among the treatments. Our results indicated that the short-term cover crops increased soil labile organic C pools, which might have implications for local agricultural ecosystem managements in this region.     

Impact of land-use change on nitrogen mineralization in subalpine grasslands in the Southern Alps

 A field study was conducted to investigate the effect of abandonment of management on net N mineralization (NNM) in subalpine meadows. NNM, soil microbial biomass N (SMBN), fungal biomass and physicochemical characteristics (total C, total N, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and pH) were determined in surface (0–10 cm) soil from May to October 1997 in an intensively managed and an abandoned meadow at 1770 m a.s.l.. The cumulative NNM was lower in the abandoned area and ranged from 150 to 373 and from 25 to 85 μg N g^–1 soil in the intensively managed and the abandoned areas, respectively. The total organic C increased in the abandoned area, while total N showed no difference between abandoned and managed meadow. SMBN showed no difference between the investigated sites, whereas ergosterol, a measure of fungal biomass, increased significantly at the abandoned site. The cumulative NNM was negatively correlated with total organic C, C : N ratio, DOC and ergosterol content, and positively correlated with the NH₄ ⁺-N content of soil. The decrease in NNM at the abandoned site may be explained by the lower availability of N in substrates characterized by a high C : N ratio which, together with a decrease in pH in the litter layer, may have increased fungal biomass. Received: 8 January 1999     

Interactions between soil organic matter status, cropping history, method of quantification and sample pretreatment and their effects on measured aggregate stability

 The effects of sample pretreatment (field-moist, air-dried or tension rewetted) on aggregate stability measured by wet sieving or turbidimetry were compared for a group of soil samples ranging in organic C content from 20 to 40 g C kg^–1. Concentrations of total N, total and hot-water-extractable carbohydrate and microbial biomass C were linearly related to those of organic C. Aggregate stability measured by wet sieving using air-dried or field-moist samples and that measured by turbidimetry, regardless of sample pretreatment, increased curvilinearly with increasing soil organic C content. However, when tension-rewetted samples were used for wet sieving, aggregate stability was essentially unaffected by soil organic C content. Measurements of aggregate stability (apart from wet sieving using rewetted soils) were closely correlated with one another and with organic C, total and extractable carbohydrate and microbial biomass C content of the soils. The short-term effects of aggregate stability were also studied. Soils from under long-term arable management and those under long-term arable followed by 1 or 3 years under pasture had similar organic C contents, but aggregate stability measured by turbidimetry and by wet sieving using air-dried or field-moist samples increased with increasing years under pasture. Light fraction C, microbial biomass and hot-water-extractable carbohydrate concentrations also increased. It was concluded that both total and labile soil organic C content are important in relation to water-stable aggregation and that the use of tension-rewetted samples to measure stability by wet sieving is unsatisfactory since little separation of values is achieved. Received: 6 January 1999     

Relationship between soil neutral sugar composition and the amount of labile soil organic matter in Andisol treated with bark compost or leaf litter

 The effect of short-term bark compost (Ba) and leaf litter (Li) applications on the labile soil organic matter (SOM) status was investigated. The SOM status studied in this paper includes soil microbial biomass, soil available N, hot water extractable C (HwC) and N (HwN) and soil neutral sugar-C composition. The soil microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN), soil available N, HwC and HwN increased upon application of Ba and Li. No quantitative relationship was observed between application of organic material and MBC, MBN or soil available N. A positive linear correlation was observed between MBN and HwC but not between MBN and soil available N. Among the various soil neutral sugar C, xylose C (Xyl) content in Ba plots showed a remarkable increase but mannose C (Man) did not differ among Fer (fertilizer), Ba or Li plots. Soil neutral sugar C had a positive linear correlation with soil available N, MBN and HwC. The proportion of MBN : TN is positively correlated with the Xyl/Man ratio. The increase in the proportion of MBN in SOM seems to occur with the increase of SOM derived from plant debris. Received: 20 October 1997     

Soil organic phosphorus and microbial community composition as affected by 26 years of different management strategies

Agricultural management can affect soil organic matter chemistry and microbial community structure, but the relationship between the two is not well understood. We investigated the effect of crop rotation, tillage and stubble management on forms of soil phosphorus (P) as determined by solution ³¹P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and microbial community composition using fatty acid methyl ester analysis in a long-term field experiment (26 years) on a Chromic Luvisol in New South Wales, Australia. An increase in soil organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus compared to the beginning of the experiment was found in a rotation of wheat and subterranean clover with direct drill and mulching, while stubble burning in wheat–lupin and wheat–wheat rotations led to soil organic matter losses. Microbial biomass was highest in the treatment with maximum organic matter contents. The same soil P forms were detected in all samples, but in different amounts. Changes in organic P occurred mainly in the monoester region, with an increase or decrease in peaks that were present also in the sample taken before the beginning of the experiment in 1979. The microbial community composition differed between the five treatments and was affected primarily by crop rotations and to a lesser degree by tillage. A linkage between soil P forms and signature fatty acids was tentatively established, but needs to be verified in further studies.     

免耕对不同麦玉轮作农田土壤碳组分及理化性质的影响

为探讨耕作及轮作方式对农田土壤理化性质和碳组分的影响,设置免耕、传统耕作2种耕作方式,以及小麦-玉米轮作、小麦/玉米间作、小麦-冬油菜-玉米轮作3种种植模式,共形成6个处理,研究结果表明:与传统耕作相比,免耕增加了0~5 cm、5~20 cm土层全氮、全磷、速效磷和含水量,而降低了的土壤pH和土壤容重。免耕小麦/玉米间作(NT.W1/NT.WM.1)处理的土壤容重、含水量、全氮、全磷含量高于NT.WRM3和NT.WM5处理,在不同土层间,土壤全氮、全磷和速效磷含量随着土层深度的增加而降低。土壤碳组分含量总体表现为免耕处理高于传统耕作处理,免耕处理0~5 cm土层土壤有机碳、颗粒有机碳、可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳含量较相应传统耕作分别增加了1.31%~36.57%、2.07%~35.22%、2.38%~4.78%、2.08%~11.68%,在5~20 cm土层,免耕处理土壤有机碳和微生物量碳含量高于传统耕作。在不同免耕处理下,土壤有机碳,颗粒有机碳和微生物量碳含量在0~5 cm、5~20 cm土层总体表现为NT.WM5高于其他免耕处理,相关性分析表明,有机碳、微生物量碳和速效磷呈极显著正相关,容重和有机碳呈极显著负相关。综上所述,免耕小麦/玉米间作利于改善土壤理化性质,小麦-玉米轮作有利于提高土壤有机碳,颗粒有机碳和微生物量碳含量。     

Loss of labile organic carbon from subsoil due to land-use changes in subtropical China

Topsoil carbon (C) stocks are known to decrease as a consequence of the conversion of natural ecosystems to plantations or croplands; however, the effect of land use change on subsoil C remains unknown. Here, we hypothesized that the effect of land use change on labile subsoil organic C may be even stronger than for topsoil due to upward concentration of plantations and crops root systems. We evaluated soil labile organic C fractions, including particulate organic carbon (POC) and its components [coarse POC and fine POC], light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), readily oxidizable organic carbon, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and microbial biomass down to 100 cm soil depth from four typical land use systems in subtropical China. Decrease in fine root biomass was more pronounced below 20 cm than in the overlying topsoil (70% vs. 56% for plantation and 62% vs. 37% for orchard. respectively) driving a reduction in subsoil labile organic C stocks. Land use changes from natural forest to Chinese fir plantation, Chinese chestnut orchard, or sloping tillage reduced soil organic C stocks and that of its labile fractions both in top and subsoil (20–100 cm). POC reduction was mainly driven by a decrease in fine POC in topsoil, while DOC was mainly reduced in subsoil. Fine POC, LFOC and microbial biomass can be useful early indicators of changes in topsoil organic C. In contrast, LFOC and DOC are useful indicators for subsoil. Reduced proportions of fine POC, LFOC, DOC and microbial biomass to soil organic C reflected the decline in soil organic C quality caused by land use changes. We conclude that land use changes decrease C sequestration both in topsoil and subsoil, which is initially indicated by the labile soil organic C fractions.     

Carbon mineralization and microbial activity in a field site trial used for 14C turnover experiments over a period of 30 years

 Long-term experiments on different crop management systems provide essential information about turnover of soil organic matter and changes in microbial properties over a period of time. A long-term field site trial, which was established in 1967 near Vienna, Austria, to document the fate of ¹⁴C-labelled manure (straw and farmyard) under different crop management systems (crop rotation, spring wheat and bare fallow), was investigated. Soil samples were taken in 1997 and separated into size fractions (>250 μm, 250–63 μm, 63–2 μm, 2–0.1 μm and <0.1 μm) after aggregate dispersion using low-energy sonication. Organic C, total N and ¹⁴C content were measured in the bulk soil and the size fractions and microbial properties were analysed in the bulk soil. Additionally, C mineralization in bulk soil samples was monitored at 20 °C over a period of 28 days, and subsequently ¹⁴C-CO₂ content was analysed. The distribution of organic C and N within the size fractions was similar between crop rotation and spring wheat; the highest amounts of organic C and N were found in the clay-sized fraction. The amounts of C and N were significantly smaller in the bare fallow, which was depleted of organic matter in the coarse-sized fractions. ¹⁴C distribution differed significantly from unlabelled C distribution, labelled C was accumulated in the silt-sized fraction, indicating weak humification of the applied manure C. The highest rate of C mineralization was measured in the crop rotation and spring wheat, whereas the emission rate of the bare fallow was about 40% lower. The higher ¹⁴C:C ratio of the bulk soil in comparison to the emitted CO₂ indicated that labelled C compounds still remained mineralizable after a period of 30 years. Microbial properties showed a great difference between crop management systems and bare fallow, particularly regarding urease and xylanase activity. Received: 31 May 1999     

Microbial response of an acid forest soil to experimental soil warming

 Effects of increased soil temperature on soil microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity were examined on organic (O) horizon material in a low-elevation spruce-fir ecosystem. Soil temperature was maintained at 5  °C above ambient during the growing season in the experimental plots, and soil temperature, moisture, microbial biomass, and dehydrogenase activity were measured during the experiment. An incubation study was also conducted under three temperature regimes, 5, 15, and 25  °C, and under four moisture regimes of 20, 120, 220, and 320% to further evaluate these environmental factors on dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass. Soil moisture content and microbial biomass controls were significantly lower (30% and 2 μg g^–1 soil, respectively) in the heated plots during the treatment period, suggesting that moisture content was important in controlling microbial biomass. In the incubation study, temperature appeared more important than moisture in controlling microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity. Increasing temperature between 5  °C and 25  °C resulted in significant decreases in microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity. Received: 7 August 1998     

Structure and function of the soil microbial community in microhabitats of a heavy metal polluted soil

 Particle-size fractionation of a heavy metal polluted soil was performed to study the influence of environmental pollution on microbial community structure, microbial biomass, microbial residues and enzyme activities in microhabitats of a Calcaric Phaeocem. In 1987, the soil was experimentally contaminated with four heavy metal loads: (1) uncontaminated controls; (2) light (300 ppm Zn, 100 ppm Cu, 50 ppm Ni, 50 ppm V and 3 ppm Cd); (3) medium; and (4) heavy pollution (two- and threefold the light load, respectively). After 10 years of exposure, the highest concentrations of microbial ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen were found in the clay (2–0.1 μm) and silt fractions (63–2 μm), and the lowest were found in the coarse sand fraction (2,000–250 μm). The phospholipid fatty acid analyses (PLFA) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) separation of 16S rRNA gene fragments revealed that the microbial biomass within the clay fraction was predominantly due to soil bacteria. In contrast, a high percentage of fungal-derived PLFA 18 : 2ω6 was found in the coarse sand fraction. Bacterial residues such as muramic acid accumulated in the finer fractions in relation to fungal residues. The fractions also differed with respect to substrate utilization: Urease was located mainly in the <2 μm fraction, alkaline phosphatase and arylsulfatase in the 2–63 μm fraction, and xylanase activity was equally distributed in all fractions. Heavy metal pollution significantly decreased the concentration of ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen of soil microorganisms in the silt and clay fraction and thus in the bulk soil. Soil enzyme activity was reduced significantly in all fractions subjected to heavy metal pollution in the order arylsulfatase >phosphatase >urease >xylanase. Heavy metal pollution did not markedly change the similarity pattern of the DGGE profiles and amino sugar concentrations. Therefore, microbial biomass and enzyme activities seem to be more sensitive than 16S rRNA gene fragments and microbial amino-sugar-N to heavy metal treatment. Received: 21 January 2000     

Critical sulphur concentration and sulphur requirement of microbial biomass in a glucose and cellulose-amended regosol

 The critical S concentration and S requirement of the soil microbial biomass of a granitic regosol was examined. S was applied at the rate of 0, 5, 10, 20, 30 and 50 μg S as MgSO₄·7H₂O, together with either 3000 μg glucose-C or 3333 μg cellulose-C, 400 μg N, and 200 μg P g ^–1 soil and 200 μg K g^–1 soil. Microbial biomass, inorganic SO₄ ^2–-S, and CO₂ emission were monitored over 30 days during incubation at 25  °C. Both glucose and cellulose decomposition rates responded positively to the S made available for microbial cell synthesis. The amounts of microbial biomass C and S increased with the level of applied S up to 10 μg S g^–1 soil and 30 μg S g^–1 soil in the glucose- and cellulose-amended soil, respectively, and then declined. Incorporated S was found to be concentrated within the microbial biomass or partially transformed into soil organic matter. The concentration of S in the microbial biomass was higher in the cellulose- (4.8–14.2 mg g^–1) than in the glucose-amended soil (3.7–10.9 mg g^–1). The microbial biomass C:S ratio was higher in the glucose- (46–142 : 1) than in the cellulose-amended soil (36–115 : 1). The critical S concentration in the microbial biomass (defined as that required to achieve 80% of the maximum synthesis of microbial biomass C) was estimated to be 5.1 mg g^–1 in the glucose- and 10.9 mg g^–1 in the cellulose-amended soil. The minimum requirement of SO₄ ^2–-S for microbial biomass formation was estimated to be 11 μg S g^–1 soil and 21 μg S g^–1 soil for glucose- and cellulose-amended soil, respectively. The highest levels of activity of the microbial biomass were observed at the SO₄ ^2–-S concentrations of 14 μg S g^–1 soil and 17 μg S g^–1 soil, for the glucose and cellulose amendments, respectively, and were approximately 31–54% higher during glucose than cellulose decomposition. Received: 20 October 1999     

Relationship between rimsulfuron degradation and microbial biomass content in a clay loam soil

 The present research was conducted to determine the relationship between the degradation of rimsulfuron and soil microbial biomass C in a laboratory-incubated clay loam soil (pH=8.1; organic matter=2.1%) under different conditions and at different initial dosages (field rate, 10 and 100 times the field rate). The half-life values varied between 0.4 and 103.4 days depending on temperature, soil moisture and initial dose. Evidence suggested that rimsulfuron could pose environmental risks in cold and dry climatic conditions. Significant decreases in microbial biomass C content in rimsulfuron-treated soil, compared to untreated soil, were observed initially, especially at higher temperatures and low moisture levels, but never exceeded 20.3% of that in control soil. The microbial biomass C content then returned to initial values at varying times depending on incubation conditions. The relationship between herbicide degradation and microbial biomass C content gave parabolic curves (P<0.005 in all cases) under all conditions tested. Generally, maximum biomass C decrease coincided with the decrease in the concentration of rimsulfuron to about 50% of the initial dose, except at 10  °C and 100×, when biomass began to recover as early as 65–70% of the initial dose. The final equations could be useful to deduce the decrease of soil microbial biomass in relation to herbicide concentration. From the degradation kinetics of the herbicide, the time required to reach this decrease can also be calculated. Received: 19 July 1999     

Seasonal changes of microbial biomass carbon related to climatic factors in soils from karst areas of southwest China

 The seasonal responses of soil microbial biomass C to changes in atmospheric temperature, soil moisture and soluble organic C were studied in soils from the karst areas of southwest China. These soils are relatively weathered, leached and impoverished, and have a low input of plant residues. Over 1 year, an inverse relationship between soil microbial biomass C and atmospheric temperature was found. The highest microbial biomass C occurred in winter and the lowest in summer, and ranged from 231–723 μg g^–1 dry soil. Although there was no obvious relationship between microbial biomass C and soil moisture, a negative correlation existed between microbial biomass C and soluble organic C. In the ecosystem studied, the marked changes in soil microbial biomass C at above 20  °C were ascribed to fluctuations of soil moisture, which were controlled by climatic factors and geomorphic conditions. The patterns of soluble organic C turnover were similar to those of soluble carbohydrate C, both of which were controlled by soil drying-rewetting cycles. It was concluded that the lowest amounts of soil microbial biomass C, measured in the summer, resulted in increases in soluble organic C due to higher turnover rates of the former at warmer air temperatures. Thus, there was a marked seasonal change in soil microbial biomass C. Received: 1 November 1998     

Effect of long-term fertilizers and manure application on microbial biomass and microbial activity of a tropical agricultural soil

We investigated some aspects of soil quality and community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) of bacteria in soil under a long-term (37 years) trial with either exclusive inorganic fertilizers or fertilizers combined with farmyard manure cultivated with jute–rice–wheat system. The treatments consisted of 100% recommended dose (RD) of NPK, 150% RD of NPK, 100% RD of N, 100% RD of NPK + FYM (10 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), and untreated control. Long-term application of 150% RD of NPK lowered the soil pH considerably while the soils in the other treatments remained near neutral. The 100% RD of NPK + FYM treated plot showed significantly highest accumulation of organic carbon, total nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon, basal soil respiration, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolyzing activity among the treatments. CLPP analysis in Biolog Ecoplates revealed that utilization of carbohydrates was enhanced in all input treated regimes, while the same for polymers, carboxylic acids, amino acids, and amines/amides were similar or less than the untreated control. However, within these groups of carbon sources, heterogeneity of individual substrate utilization between treatments was also noted. Taken together, addition of organic supplements showed significantly increased microbial biomass carbon and microbial activity, but input of nutrient supplements, both inorganic and organic, only marginally affected the overall substrate utilization pattern of soil microorganisms.     

秸秆促腐还田对土壤养分及活性有机碳的影响

通过2年的小麦-玉米轮作田间定位试验,设置5个处理：不施肥（CK）、单施化肥（F）、化肥 秸秆（FS）、化肥 秸秆 腐秆剂（FSD）、磷钾肥减施20%（按P2O5和K2O计,与F比较） 秸秆 腐秆剂（F4/5SD）,通过分析作物收获后土壤耕层养分、活性有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量,计算土壤不同形态碳素有效率和碳库管理指数等,探讨秸秆促腐还田对沿淮砂姜黑土土壤养分和活性有机碳的影响。结果表明：1）与单施化肥处理相比,常规秸秆还田处理土壤碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾含量分别增加了13.0%、4.6%和10.7%,土壤活性有机碳有效率增加12.0%和11.1%,土壤碳库管理指数提高了30.6%;2）秸秆促腐还田处理土壤碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾含量分别增加了17.4%、40.5%和12.4%,土壤活性有机碳、活性有机碳有效率和可溶性有机碳分别增加了12.0%、9.5%和51.3%,土壤碳库管理指数提高了102.3%;3）土壤碳库管理指数与土壤养分含量、土壤碳素有效率等的相关性较土壤总有机碳含量有显著提高。可见,秸秆促腐还田较常规秸秆还田更利于提高沿淮砂姜黑土土壤养分含量、有机碳中活性组分含量及其有效率和土壤碳库管理指数;即使减施磷、钾肥20%,该措施的增肥和培土效果也不会明显下降。     

Effects of past and current crop management on soil microbial biomass and activity

Because soil biota is influenced by a number of factors, including land use and management techniques, changing management practices could have significant effects on the soil microbial properties and processes. An experiment was conducted to investigate differences in soil microbiological properties caused by long- and short-term management practices. Intact monolith lysimeters (0.2 m² surface area) were taken from two sites of the same soil type that had been under long-term organic or conventional crop management and were then subjected to the same 2.5-year crop rotation [winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), maize (Zea mais L.), lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.), and rape (Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera)] and two fertilizer regimes (following common organic and conventional practices). Soil samples were taken after crop harvest and analyzed for microbial biomass C and N, microbial activity (fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis, arginine deaminase activity, and dehydrogenase activity), and total C and N. The incorporation of the green manure stimulated growth and activity of the microbial communities in soils of both management histories. Soil microbial properties did not show any differences between organically and conventionally fertilized soils, indicating that crop rotation and plant type had a larger influence on the microbial biomass and enzyme activities than fertilization. Initial differences in microbial biomass declined, while the effects of farm management history were still evident in enzyme activities and total C and N. Links between enzyme activities and microbial biomass C varied depending on treatment, indicating differences in microbial community composition.     

华北平原典型农田土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷库的县域分布特征——以河北省曲周县为例

土壤微生物生物量是土壤中的活性养分库,直接参与土壤碳氮磷硫等元素的形态转化与生物地球化学循环过程,是反映土壤肥力与质量的重要生物指标。基于网格法采样,运用地统计学方法分析华北平原典型农田土壤微生物生物量碳氮磷库的空间分布特征及影响因子。结果表明:河北省曲周县域农田耕层(0~30 cm)土壤微生物生物量库在空间上呈斑块状分布,具有中等变异强度和明显的空间自相关性,微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)、微生物生物量磷(MBP)库储量分别为(C)64.14×10³t、(N)24.55×10³t、(P)2.80×10³t,作物产量与MBC和MBN存在显著正相关关系。不同种植体系下单位质量土壤MBC、MBN、MBP的量存在显著差异,小麦/玉米轮作体系下单位质量土壤微生物生物量的平均量高于棉花连作。土壤微生物生物量库的大小和空间分布均受种植体系和土壤肥力的影响,其中土壤有机碳含量是影响土壤微生物生物量库容及空间分布的一个主要因子。研究结果表明土壤微生物生物量库是我国北方典型农田土壤中不可忽视的潜在有效养分库。     

Soil respiration is not limited by reductions in microbial biomass during long-term soil incubations

Declining rates of soil respiration are reliably observed during long-term laboratory incubations. However, the cause of this decline is uncertain. We explored different controls on soil respiration to elucidate the drivers of respiration rate declines during long-term soil incubations. Following a long-term (707 day) incubation (30 °C) of soils from two sites (a cultivated and a forested plot at Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, MI, USA), soils were significantly depleted of both soil carbon and microbial biomass. To test the ability of these carbon- and biomass-depleted (“incubation-depleted”) soils to respire labile organic matter, we exposed soils to a second, 42 day incubation (30 °C) with and without an addition of plant residues. We controlled for soil carbon and microbial biomass depletion by incubating field fresh (“fresh”) soils with and without an amendment of wheat and corn residues. Although respiration was consistently higher in the fresh versus incubation-depleted soil (2 and 1.2 times higher in the fresh cultivated and fresh forested soil, respectively), the ability to respire substrate did not differ between the fresh and incubation-depleted soils. Further, at the completion of the 42 day incubation, levels of microbial biomass in the incubation-depleted soils remained unchanged, while levels of microbial biomass in the field-fresh soil declined to levels similar to that of the incubation-depleted soils. Extra-cellular enzyme pools in the incubation-depleted soils were sometimes slightly reduced and did not respond to addition of labile substrate and did not limit soil respiration. Our results support the idea that available soil organic matter, rather than a lack microbial biomass and extracellular enzymes, limits soil respiration over the course of long-term incubations. That decomposition of both wheat and corn straw residues did not change after major changes in the soil biomass during extended incubation supports the omission of biomass values from biogeochemical models.